Automatic set-up means for cut-off



March 16, 1965 A. F. SHIELDs 3,173,323

AUTOMATIC SET-UP MEANS FOR CUT-OFF Filed Aug. 10, 1960 United States Patent O 3,173 323 AUTOMATIC SET-UP IEANS FR CUT-GFF Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, NX., assigner to S 8l S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co., lne., Brooklyn, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 10, '1960, Ser. No. 48,759 11 Ciairns. (Cl. {i3-293) This invention relates to apparatus for cutting sheets from a continuous moving web and more particularly to a novel means for automatically setting the apparatus to cut a sheet of predetermined length.

In the manufacture of corrugated sheets a web is passed at continuous predetermined speed through a cutting mechanism which usually comprises a pair of knives mounted upon a pair of individual drums. The length of sheet cut by the knives depends upon the time taken for the knives to complete each revolution or cycle. Accordingly, in order to change the length of the sheets the rotative speed of the knife drums must be changed.

However, during the cutting interval, it is essential that the speed of the knives shall be equal to or substantially in synchronism with the linear movement of the sheet material in order to prevent either bulging of the sheet which would occur if the knives move too slowly or ripping of the sheet which would occur if the knives move too fast.

In my U.S. Patent 2,202,872 there is illustrated a cutting mechanism and drive means therefore which accomplishes the results hereinbefore outlined. This mechanism includes a Reeves drive which is interposed between the main driving means and the knife carrying drums.

The instant invention comprises means for automatically adjusting the duration of each cycle of the knife carrying drums so that a sheet of predetermined length is cut. In the devices of the prior art a substantial amount of material was wasted during set-up, since it was necessary to operate the cutting knives during the set-up and measure the individual sheets being cut. These sheets were usually measured one at a time so that extensive set-up time was required. The ultimate adjustment was achieved by the operator jogging the adjusting mechanism into iinal position.

Set-up means of the prior art have often relied upon the Reeves adjusting screw as being determinative of sheet length. This produces many inaccuracies because of slack in the Reeves belt and play in the mating of the adjusting screw with cooperating elements.

The device of the instant invention overcomes these deficiencies of the prior art by providing an automatic set-up means which is constructed so that sheet length settings do not rely upon the setting of the Reeves adjusting screw. In the device of the instant invention the Reeves adjusting motor, in addition to adjusting the Reeves drive, acts through a set of bevel gears to drive a lead screw. There is a splined connection between the lead screw and the bevel gears so the the lead screw may move axially with respect to the output bevel gear. The le'ad screw is in threaded engagement with a first nut for engaging a limit target switch and a second nut which carries a cam follower. The follower is secured to the lead screw in a manner such that the screw is freely rotatable with respect thereto yet is prevented from having axial movement with respect thereto.

A shaft driven by the Reeves adjusting motor carries a first gear which drives a second gear one revolution for a complete range of sheet sizes. The second gear in turn drives a drum cam which is in operative engagement with the follower carried by the second nut so that rotation of the drum cam is effective to cause axial movement of the lead screw.

Patented AMar. i 16, .1965

lCC

There would be no problem in adjusting the Reeves mechanism if sheet length were a linear function of the Reeves adjustment. However, for the range of sheet sizes usually encountered, sheet length lags behind the Reeves adjustment in a non-linear manner. The drum cam provides compensation for the deviation from a straight line of the curve of Reeves adjustment versus sheet length.

Automatic set-up is accomplished by having the operator manipulate a hand-wheel so as to move a carriage which carries the target switch and also moves a shaft having a pointer thereon along a scale having sheet lengthindicia marked thereon. This shaft carries photocells or other sensing devices for determining sheet length. After the pointer is moved to a position corresponding to the desired sheet length the limit switch control is thrown in a direction to cause rotation of the Reeves adjusting motor in a direction to move the first nut toward the carriage.

At the same time this adjusts the Reeves mechanism so that the knives will cut a sheet to approximately the desired length. When the rst nut strikes the target limit switch carried by the carriage the Reeves mechanism is substantially at the position required for the knives to cut the desired sheet lengths. Thereafter, minor adjustments are achieved by feed-back circuits, well known to the art, fed by the sensing means.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a novel automatic set-up means for a paper cut-olf device.

Another object is to provide an automatic set-np means of this type in which sheet length is determined independently of the Reeves adjusting screw.

Still another object is to provide an automatic set-up means which produces a linear characteristic of mechanism adjustment vs. sheet length.

A further object is to provide a machanism of this .type which includes a lead screw and two connections from the Reeves adjusting motor to the lead screw with one connection imparting direct axial movement to the lead screw and the second connection imparting rotational movement to the lead screw.

These as well as other objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a schematic representation of cutting mechanism and an automatic set-up means therefor constructedV in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a graph illustrating sheet length vs. mechanism adjustment. i

Now referring to the figures, thepaper cut-o device to which the instant invention is applied is described inV 'detail in my aforesaid U.S. Patent 2,202,872. The paper cut-off comprises input shaft 1l to which driving power is supplied to Reeves mechanism l2. Shaft l1 extends through Reeves cone 13 to drive spur gear 14 which is coupled by chain 15 to drive spur gear 16. Gear acting through shaft i7 drives conveyor roller 18 positioned above a continuous web 20, usually corrugated board, which is to be cut into sheets.

Roller 13 cooperates with roller 19, positioned therebelow, to convey web 2t) in a forward direction to a cutting means comprising Vknives 21, 22, mounted to drums 23, 24, respectively. Drums 23, 24 are keyed to shafts 25, 26, respectively, having mating spur gears 27, 23, respectively keyed thereto.

Shaft 26 is pivotally connected at 29 to one end of link 30 whose other end is pivotally connected at 31 to one end of link 32. The other end of link 32 is pivotally connected at 33 to one end of link 34 whose other end is keyed to shaft 35. Gear 36 is also keyed to shaft and the teeth of gear 36 are in engagement with the teeth of gear 37 keyed to shaft 33 also having gear 39 keyed thereto. Chain 4t) connects gear 39 to gear 41, which is keyed to shaft 42,` so as to be driven by cone 43 of the Reeves mechanism 12. Reeves cones 13 and 43 are interconnected by belt 44 whose axial position along shafts 11 and 42 is adjustable.

As fully explained in my aforesaid Patent 2,202,872, conveyor roller 18 is driven at a constant angular speed so as to convey web 26 forward at a constant rate of speed. However, knife drums 23, 24 are driven at a variable angular speed during most of the cycle and at a predetermined speed during the portion of the cycle when knives 21, 22 perform their cutting operation. That is, during the cutting operation the linear speed of the knives 21, 22 is equal to the speed of web 20.

Sheet length is adpusted by varying the position of shaft 35 relative to the position of shaft 3S and also changing the postion of the Reeves belt 44. The former is accomplished by means of sector gear which is pivotable about shaft 38 as a center. An extension 46 of sector gear 45 supports shaft 35 for free rotation so that movement of gear 45 is effective to move shaft 35 relative to shaft 38. Movement of sector gear 45 is effected by adjusting motor 47 whose output shaft 48 drives Worm 49 mated to spur gear 50. Gear 50 is keyed toshaft 51 having worm 52 keyed thereto. Worm 52 is mated to sector gear 45 so that rotation of the former is effective to cause movement of the latter.

Shaft 51 extending through universal coupling 53 is effective to drive another worm 54 which is mated to gear 55 keyed lto lead screw 56. Lead screw 56 drives nut 57 having a bifurcated extension 58 which straddles Reeves belt 49 so that movement of nut 57 is effective to move the Reeves adjusting belt 44.

For the mechanism hereinbefore described the curve of Reeves adjustment vs. sheet length (curve A, FIGURE 2) deviates substantially from a straight line. That is, for a Reeves adjustment of increment B, at the lower end of the sheet length scale, the variation in sheet length is typically .6 inch. For the Reeves adjustment of increment C, at the high end of the sheet length scale, the variation in sheet length is typically 10 inches. The increments B and C are substantially equal. That is, the movement of Reeves adjusting belt 44 is substantially 4the same in both instances.

Thisinvention, as will be hereinafter described, providesV novel means for automatically setting up the mechanism hereinbefore described for cutting a sheet of predetermined length. The automatic set-up means comprises input bevel gear 66 keyed to shaft 48 and mated to output bevel gear 61. Gear 61 is mounted to the splined end 62 vof lead screw 63 so that lead screw 63 may move axially with respect to gear 61 yet be rotated thereby.

Axial movement is also imparted to lead screw 63 by means of connector 64, which is mounted kto lead screw 63 in a fixed axial position, yet in a manner such that lead screw 63 is freely rotatable with respect to connector 64. Connector 64 includes follower extension 65 which projects into cam groove 66 of drum 67 Drum 67 is mounted to shaft 63 which carries spur gear 69 mated to spur gear 70 mounted to extension 51a of Reeves adjusting shaft 51.` The sizes of spur gears 69, 70 are so proportioned that cam drum 67 is rotated for approximately one revolution for a complete range of sheet sizes.

When adjusting motor 47 is actuated, this causes rotation of drum 67, which in `turn causes rotation of cam groove 66, thereby imparting axial movement to lead screw 63 relative to output bevel gear 61. At the same time, bevel gears 60, 61 are caused to rotate, bringing about a rotation of lead screw 63 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Lead screw 63 extends forwardly of knives 21, 22

in a direction parallel t'o the path of movement of web 20. Lead screw 63 is threadably mounted to nut 71, which is slidably mounted to frame '72, so that rotation of lead screw 63 causes movement of nut 71 in an axial direction with respect to lead screw 63. Further, axial movement of lead screw 63 caused by cam drum 67 also imparts motion to nut 71. Nut 71 is positioned so as to be engageable with limit target switch means 73 mounted to carriage 74.

Carriage 74 extends across conveyor belt means 73, which is provided to receive sheets cut by knives 21, 22. Transverse shaft 76 rotatable my means of handwheel 77 is freely mounted to carriage 74. Toothed wheels 78, 79 keyed to shaft 76 rest upon racks 80, 81, respectively, mounted to frame 72.` Thus, a rotation of handwheel 77 is effective to move carriage 74 along the feed path of the sheets.

Carriage 74 also has mounted thereto a pointer 82 which is operatively positioned with respect to sheet length indicia marked upon frame 72. Carriage 74 further carries a pick-up element 84 such as a photocell of a sheet length sensing device.

kAutomatic set-up is accomplished by rotating hand wheel 77 so as to position pointer 82 opposite the appropriate indicia indicating the length of sheet desired. The limit switch control 73 is then operated to close a circuit for operating adjusting motor 47 in a direction to move nut 71 toward limit switch 73. A first increment of movement is imparted to nut 71 by the rotation of lead screw 63 and a second increment of movement is imparted to nut 71 through the rotation of cam drum 67.

When nut 71 strikes limit switch 73, Reeves mechanism 12 and the links driving cutting knives 21, 22 are adjusted so that knives 21, 22 will cut web 29 to sheets of substantially the length desired. Thereafter, minor adjustments are achieved by feedback circuits, well known to the art, fed by the sensing device 84. Such circuits are illustrated in U.S. Patents 2,250,209 and 2,599,430.

it is to be noted that cam groove 66 is so shaped that even though curve A is non-linear the overall eHect is to transform the curve of Reeves adjustment vs. sheet length to a substantially straight line. That is, the sheet length selecting indicia on frame 72 is set out as a linear scale.

Thus, this invention provides a device in which sheet length set-up is determined independently of the Reeves adjusting screw and is set to within tolerable limits, accomplished without the necessity of moving web 20 and operating knives 21, 22 so that no material is wasted. Thereafter, the automatic control will Ymaintain sheet length to precise dimension as sheets are being cut. Accordingly, it is seen that sheets are cut only after the machine is setto cut within tolerable limits. The operator is not required to measure the sheets and correct the Reeves adjustment during this period so that set-up time is substantially reduced.

Although I have here described preferred embodiment of my novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled'in the art, and I therefore prefer to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. The combination including a device for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for moving a web along a feed path and delivering this web to said device and delivering sheets cut from this web forward of said device, a mechanism for adjusting the speed of said device relative to the speed of said conveyor means whereby the lengths of sheets produced by said device may be adjusted,.a rst means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said rst means when said device is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, means'operatively connecting said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means is effective to move said third means to a position corresponding to the setting of said second means, additional means mounting said second means for movement parallel to said feed path and forward of said device.

2. The combination including a device for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for adjusting the speed of said device relative to the speed of said conveyor means whereby the lengths of sheets produced by said device may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said first means when said device is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a rst connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a rst increment of movement to said thr'rd means, a second connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said rst means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; said first and said second increments of movement being in the same direction and occurring simultaneously.

3. The combination including a device for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a'mechanism for adjusting the speed of said device relative to the speed of said conveyor means whereby the lengths of sheets produced by said device may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a thir means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said first means Vwhen said device is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a first connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a first increment of movement to said third means, a second connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; said first and second increments of movement combining to produce a substantially linear characteristic of mechanism adjustment versus sheet length.

4. The combination including a device for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for adjusting the speed of said device relative to the speed of said conveyor means whereby the lengths of sheets produced by said device may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanj ism, a presettable secondmeansfor selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said first means when said device is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a first connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a first increment of movement to said third means, a second connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; and first connection being a linear one and said second connection being a non-linear one with respect to operation of said first means; said second connection including a cam driven by said first means and a follower driven by said cam.

5. The combination including a device for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for adjusting the speed of said device relative to the speed of said conveyor means whereby the lengths of sheets produced by said CJI device may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said first means when said device is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a first connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a first increment of movement to said third means, a second connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; and first connection being a linear one and said second connection being a non-linear one with respect to operation of said first means; said second connection including a cam driven by said first means and a follower driven by said cam; said ,third means including an elongated screw, said first connection being constructed to cause rotation of said screw; said follower being connected to said screw to cause movement thereof along its longitudinal axis without imparting rotation to said screw.

6. The combination including a device for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for adjusting the speed of said device relative to the speed of said conveyor means whereby the lengths of sheets produced by said device may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said first means when said'device is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a first connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of Said first means applies a first increment of movement lto said third means, a second connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; and first connection being a linear one and said second connection being a non-linear one 4with respect to operation of said first means; and second connection including a cam driven by said first means and a follower driven by said cam; said third means including an elongated screw, said first connection being constructed to cause rotation of said screw; said follower being connected to said screw to cause mov-ement thereof along its longitudinal axis without imparting rotationto said screw; said second means also including a switch means manually operable for initiating operation of said first means;

said switch means being operated automatically, when said third means assumes a predetermined position with respect to said second means and at that time being effective to interrupt the operation of said first means initiated by operation of saidswitch to said first position.

7. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable ltnife means for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for moving a web along a feed path and delivering this web to said device and delivering sheets cut from this web forward of said device, a mechanism for driving said knife means at variable speed throughout a cycle and at a predetermined speed during a predetermined portion of the cycle, said mechanism being adjustable so that the speed of said knife means, hence the duration of a cycle, relative to the speed of said conveyor means may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said first means when said knife means is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, means operatively connecting said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means is envases elective to move said third means to a position correspending to the setting of said second means.

8. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable knife means for cutting -a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for driving said knife means at variable speed throughout a cycle and at a predetermined speed during a predetermined portion of the cycle, said mechanism being adjustable so that the speed of said knife means, hence the duration of a cycle, relative to the speed of said conveyor means may be adjusted, a iirst means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, a third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said rst means when said knife means is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, means operatively connecting said first means and said third means whereby operation of said iirst means is effective to move said third means to a position corresponding to the setting of said second means; said last recited means being constructed to produce a substantially linear characteristic of mechanism adjustment versus sheet length.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable knife means for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for driving said knife means at variable speed throughout a cycle and at a predetermined speed duri-ng a predetermined portion of the cycle, said mechanism being adjustable so that the speed of said knife means, hence the duration of a cycle, relative to the speed of said conveyor means may be adjusted, a first means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said lirst means when said knife means is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a rst connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a tirst increment of movement to said third means, a second connection between said tirst means and said third means whereby operation of said rst means applies a second increment of movement tovsaid third means.

10. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable knife means for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for driving said knife means at variable speed throughout a cycle and at a predetermined speed during a predetermined portion of the cycle, said mechanism being adjustable so that the speed of said knife means, hence the duration of a cycle, relative to the speed of said conveyor means may be adjusted, a rst means for adjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means CJI for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said iirst means when said knife means is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a first connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said irst means applies a tirst increment of movement to said third means, a second connection between said iirst means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; said second connection including a cam driven by said tirst means and a follower driven by said cam.

l1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable knife means for cutting a moving web into sheets, conveyor means for delivering a web to said device, a mechanism for driving said knife means at variable speed throughout a cycle and at a predetermined speed during a predetermined portion of the cycle, said mechanism being adjustable so that the speed of said knife means, hence the duration of a cycle, relative to the speed of said conveyor means may be adjusted, a first means forradjusting said mechanism, a presettable second means for selecting the lengths of sheets to be produced by said device, third means operatively connected to said second means for automatically interrupting operation of said tirst means when said knife means is adjusted to cut sheets corresponding to the setting of said second means, a rst connection between said rst means and said third means whereby operation of said rst means applies a iirst increment of movement to said third means, a second connection between said first means and said third means whereby operation of said first means applies a second increment of movement to said third means; said second connection including a cam driven by said first means and a follower driven by said cam; said third means in-- cluding an elongated screw extending parallel to the path along which said conveyor means moves a web and forward of said rotatable knife; said first connection being constructed to cause rotation of said screw; said follower being connected to said screw to cause movement thereof along its longitudinal axis without imparting rotation to said screw.

References vCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,399 2/34 Umansky 83-287 2,202,872 6/40 Shields 83-311 XR 2,241,427 5/41 Shields 83-298 XR 2,289,394 7/42 Ungar 83-299 2,389,341 11/45 Behrens 83-299 LEON PEAR, Prmaly Examiner.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A DEVICE FOR CUTTING A MOVING WEB INTO SHEETS, CONVEYOR MEANS FOR MOVING A WEB ALONG A FEED PATH AND DELIVERING THIS WEB TO SAID DEVICE AND DELIVERING SHEETS CUT FROM THIS WEB FORWARD OF SAID DEVICE, A MECHANISM FOR ADJUSTING THE SPEED OF SAID DEVICE RELATIVE TO THE SPEED OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS WHEREBY THE LENGTHS OF SHEETS PRODUCED BY SAID DEVICE MAY BE ADJUSTED, A FIRST MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID MECHANISM, A PRESETTABLE SECOND MEANS FOR SELECTING THE LENGTHS OF SHEETS TO BE PRODUCED BY SAID DEVICE, A THIRD MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTERRUPTING OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MEANS WHEN SAID DEVICE IS ADJUSTED TO CUT SHEETS CORRESPONDING TO THE SETTING OF SAID SECOND MEANS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID FIRST MEANS AND SAID THIRD MEANS WHEREBY OPERTION OF SAID FIRST MEANS IS EFFECTIVE TO MOVE SAID THIRD MEANS TO A POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE SETTING OF SAID SECOND MEANS, ADDITIONAL MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND MEANS FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO SAID FEED PATH AND FORWARD OF SAID DEVICE. 